Jarome Luai takes a cryptic shot at Ivan Cleary after the coach said teams that want to sign him away from Penrith could be taking a huge risk

Out-of-contract Panthers fifth-eighth Jarome Luai has responded cryptically to coach Ivan Cleary’s claim it would be a risk for rival NRL clubs to sign him as halfback for 2025 and beyond.

Luai, 26, will have no shortage of offers to leave Penrith and is being tipped for deals worth $1 million plus a season.

It is believed the NRL premiers are keen to retain Luai on a two-year extension but will only be able to receive $850,000 per season due to salary caps.

On Wednesday, Cleary raised eyebrows after telling reporters that it would be a gamble for other clubs to go all-in on Luai as their future key playmaker.

‘Could he do it? I’m sure he could do it. Did he do it? No, he hasn’t,” he said.

“Obviously he did something with Samoa in last year’s World Cup, but overall he has played his role in this team and it is something different.

“I think that’s a risk that everyone (rivals) should take.”

NSW Blues Origin representative Luai took to Instagram on Thursday, seemingly in response to Cleary.

Currently recovering from off-season surgery, he posted an image to his story with the tagline “know your worth,” set to the sound of rapper 50 Cent’s “Hustler’s Ambition.”

Cleary also stated that he felt “comfortable” with Luai “exploring his options” and that the kingpin “knows what we think of him.”

“Everyone is always looking for high quality halves and he is certainly one of them,” he said.

“It’s just a matter of him now finding out what’s there, looking at it and coming back to us.

‘We have made it quite clear what we can afford. I want to make it very clear that we want him to stay.

‘And I’m pretty sure he wants to stay too. But hey, money talks, so we’ll see.’